“It's spring fever.... You don't quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!” ~ Mark Twain

The trees are in bloom in my neighborhood. Beauty is all around, and Spring is just around the corner. Get our your gardening equipment though, I've seen some lively weeds too!

“There are fairies at the bottom of our garden.” ~ Rose Fyleman

Gardens are meant to soothe the soul, and inspire the weary mind. Part of the fun of gardening, is inviting the magical idea of fairies, sprites, and their feathery bird friends. Adding simple touches, like bird baths, and a fairy door at the bottom of a tree, evokes the magic that you and your plants need. When you have time to rest a spell in your magical garden, sit back, close your eyes, and open your imagination.

Seeds of Change

Most of the women in my garden club lived through the Great Depression. They seem to have such a better handle on saving things, being conservative with their money, and recycling goods. I also noticed they share plants from their gardens with each other, and they start many of their prettiest plants from seeds.

This year, thanks to our own roller coaster economy, I decided to try an experiment. I planted a seed garden. As these flowers bloom and grow, I'll share the excitement with you. I planted a patch next to my driveway, and a border around my roses. Then I covered them with fresh potting soil. This is photo number one, in a hopefully successful series known as "Seeds of Change." Wildflowers for a wildflower child.

Take time to smell the roses

"You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love." ~ Henry Drummond

As the symbol of love and romance, the red rose is certainly a beautiful flower for the recent holiday. Roses say "I love you," along with hearts and boxes of chocolate. I hope you enjoyed your Valentine's weekend. Tomorrow is "President's Day." I'm so happy that we have holidays nearly every month. Life is more fun when it's being celebrated.

Descanso Gardens Gift Shop

I recently visited Descanso Gardens. It's a real pleasure to look around their gift shop. I found these lovely roses, made from shaved wood. If you click the title above, it will take you directly to the Gift Shop. Have fun.

In memory of Florence...

I think we should look forward to death more than we do. Of course everybody hates to go to bed or miss anything but dying is really the only chance we'll get to rest.
~ Florynce Kennedy


I was informed today that my lovely gardening teacher and neighbor "Florence" (not the author above) died peacefully in her sleep yesterday. She was 95 and a half. She lived a life filled with incredible beauty. An avid gardener, and photographer, she was a lovely friend and mentor. I will miss her, but I celebrate her wonderful life and peaceful passing. May we all live and die so gracefully.
RIP Florence - September 1, 1913 to February 9, 2009

Look at what's blooming in my garden!

...and for a brief moment, the weatherman thought it might snow in L.A., but it didn't. I did read that daffodil's love cool weather though.

Cheers to Spring, it's on it's way!

I planted wildflowers seeds in my garden. I touched up the blank spots in my yard with grass seed, dirt and fertilizer. I planted new roses. Now my back hurts, for real! I suppose I was surely working.

Signs of Spring

This is an exciting time of year in my Southern California garden.

I planted new bareroot roses two week ago. I chose shades of pink, lavender, fuschia, and purple and I removed an old yellow rose that I no longer enjoyed. I had several gardeners recommend this rose "Perfume Delight." I will photograph this for you when it blooms.

Some of my roses are peeking out, and will be in full bloom probably by next week.

I found evidence all over my roses that they preparing for a colorful spring. I see life popping out everywhere.





My azaleas are in bloom, and are especially pretty right now.

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission. ~ Stuart's Law of Retroaction

While practicing macro flower shots, I photographed a small orange flower, on a shrub. This flower is actually quite insignificant to the larger plant. I was amazed at the ability to enlarge such a small flower.


This is the same flower edited using layers and changing the colors.

It is easier to get forgiveness than permission., originally uploaded by Abby Lanes.

I decided to create some "Warhol-ish" images, with this flower. Here are two of them.